Carton-loading apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Articles, such as containers, are directed onto the peripheral side surfaces of a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. After each side surface of the wheel receives a load of articles, the wheel is momentarily released to permit limited rotational movement about the axis due to the unbalanced load arrangement on the wheel and the force of gravity. The articles are inserted into cartons as the wheel rotates. The cartons and included articles are released after being inverted due to wheel rotation.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Reinhold A. Pearson [56] References Cit d 1 $9 UNITED STATES PATENTS f 3, 2,1970 741,466 10/1903 Donnelly 53/243 x {45] Patemed June 29,197 906,291 12/1908 Robb 53/243 X [73] Assignee R. A. Pearson Company 1,243,406 10/1917 Hawthorne. 53/243 X Spokane wash 2,879,638 3/1959 HI 53/243 X 9 Confinuauonflmm 0' application Sen ML 3,316,688 5/1967 Nlederer et al, 53/243 X 841,710,1"1! 15, 1969, now abandoned. 3,343,337 9/1967 Dalle Vacche 53/243 X Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner--Robert L. Spruilll Attorney-Wells, St. John and Roberts [54] CARTON-LOADING APPARATUS AND METHOD laclmms 15 Drawing ABSTRACT: Articles, such as containers, are directed onto [52] US. Cl 53/35, the peripheral side surfaces of a wheel rotatably mounted 53/61, 53/243, 53/247, 53/251, 53/253, 198/25, about a horizontal axis. After each side surface of the wheel 214/1 BV receives a load of articles, the wheel is momentarily released [51] Int. Cl B65b 5/08, to permit limited rotational movement about the axis due to B65b 21/14 the unbalanced load arrangement on the wheel and the force [50] Field of Search 53/242, of gravity. The articles are inserted into cartons as the wheel 243, 26, 35, 61,166, 247, 253, 249-251, 392; 198/33 AD,25; 214/1 Q, 1 EV, 1 BD rotates. The cartons and included articles are released after being inverted due to wheel rotation.

PATENTEDJUNZQIQYI 3.589.094

SHEET 2 OF 9 INVENTOR.

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SHEET 7 OF 9 INVENTOR. Reinhold A. Pearson R ffys PATENTEUJUNZSIQH 3 5 9 094 sum 8 OF 9 i l l' i l ET IZ ENVENTOR. Reinhold rq. p eqnsm PATENTEDJUNZQIQYI 3 5 9,094

SHEET 9 OF 9 INVIL'NTOR. Reinhold A Pearson CARTON-LOADING APPARATUS AND METHOD CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 84l,7l0, filed July I5, I969, now abandoned. I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to the loading of cartons made of corrugated paperboard or other conventional materials. It is directed to the placement of bottles, cans or other articles within the cartons. It is particularly useful in instances where open containers such as empty bottles or cans are placed in a carton for delivery to a manufacturer of materials packaged therein. It provides exceptional loading speed relative to conventional carton-loading devices and methods.

Many users of bottles or cans have stringent requirements as to the cleanliness of the containers. A common difficulty is the reception of dust and other foreign materials in such containers during shipment and storage prior to filling of the containers. One solution to this difficulty is to package the containers upside down in the shipping carton. However, this cannot be accomplished with conventional top-loading cartonfilling machines.

According to the present invention, containers or other articles are loaded onto successive sides of a rotatable polygonal wheel and an empty carton is placed over the containers, thereby covering the open end of each container by contact with the bottom of the carton. Rotation of the supporting wheel inverts the carton and included containers, and the cartons are discharged at the lower portion of the wheel with the inverted containers received therein. Because the containers are inverted within the carton, dust and other foreign material cannot enter the containers prior to their use.

To unload the cartons, the cartons are simply turned upside down and the articles may be received on a conveyor or table in a proper upright position for delivery to a filling machine or other handling apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention essentially comprises a wheel that is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis wherein the wheel presents a plurality of planar outer surfaces centered about the axis. In dexing means is provided to selectively position the wheel side surfaces so that successive wheel surfaces are located relative to the axis in an upwardly facing loading position. Loading means is provided to place articles on each wheel surface while it is held at the loading position. Carton guide means is provided to direct open cartons tangential to the articles on the wheel surfaces as each surface is moved about the axis from the loading position. Retaining means is provided to maintain the articles on the wheel surfaces until released after being inverted by wheel rotation.

One object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple mechanical carton-loading apparatus in contrast to the complexity of conventional container handling and loading equip ment.

Another object of the invention is to utilize gravity as the moving force for the carton-loading apparatus, eliminating the dangers inherent in a power-driven device for moving the cartons and articles loaded therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton-loading apparatus with a minimum of moving parts, thereby minimizing necessary maintenance and adjustment of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus taken from the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the carton-loading apparatus as seen along line 3-3 in FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ap' paratus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the indexing ap' paratus as seen along line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the carton-holding apparatus as seen along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate schematically the operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a top view showing the loading of the wheel;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the placement ofa carton on a charge of containers;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing continued rotation of the car tons and containers;

FIG. 10 is a front view similar to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. I] is a vertical sectional view taken along line ll11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the second embodiment as seen along line 12-l2 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a first schematic view illustrating the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 through 13; and

FIG. I5 is a second schematic view illustrating the insertion of articles into a carton by the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method and apparatus of this disclosure are illustrated by two forms or embodiments of the invention. The first is shown in FIGS. I through 6 and the second in FIGS. 10 through 13. The operation of the apparatus and steps of the new method disclosed herein are shown in FIGS. 7 through 9 with respect to the first embodiment .and in FIGS. 14 and 15 with respect to the second embodiment.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 is illustrated as it would be utilized in the loading of cans into a paperboard carton. This particular embodiment is designed specifically for use at a can manufacturing facility for the loading of empty cans into a carton prior to shipment of the cans to a cannery, brewery, or other user. The cans are received in the cartons in an inverted or upside-down condition, eliminating the reception of foreign material into the empty cans during shipment and storage prior to their use. It is to be understood that the apparatus can also be used for handling empty or filled bottles or other articles and objects which are to be shipped in a container, so long as the articles can be safely turned upside down after being received within the shipping carton. No essential modification need be made with respect to the apparatus illustrated to adapt it to the handling of different objects other than to change the scale of the various components to accommodate the size and shape of the objects and the desired carton sizes.

The apparatus is supported by a rigid framework 10. The main operating component of the apparatus is a multisided wheel Ill fixed to a central shaft 12. The shaft 12 is rotatably journaled by bearings 13 mounted on the framework 10. Bearings 13 support shaft 12 and wheel 11 for rotational movement about a horizontal axis. In the specific embodiment shown, the axis of shaft 12 is aligned longitudinally with the machine and is oriented parallel to the path of incoming objects.

The wheel comprises a plurality of radial spokes I4 which support outwardly facing sides including outwardly directed wheel surfaces 15. Each surface [5 lies in a plane that is parallel to the axis of shaft 12. The surfaces 15 are equiangularly spaced about the axis of shaft 12 and adjacent surfaces 15 intersect one another along lines that are parallel to the axis of shaft 12. The front and rear edges of the respective surfaces 15 lie in longitudinally spaced planes which are perpendicular to the axis of shaft 12.

The surfaces 15 are adapted to receive articles such as cans, bottles, etc., which are aligned in parallel longitudinal rows. To maintain proper positioning of the objects, a plurality of parallel guides 16 are fixed to and extend outwardly from each of the wheel side surfaces 15. The surfaces of the guides 16 serve to define rows along the wheel side surfaces 15 and retain the articles thereon in their desired relative positions.

A conventional slip clutch or brake 17 is mounted to the framework 10 and is operatively connected to shaft 12. Brake 17 is provided for manual adjustment of the rotational speed of the wheel 11 due to gravitational forces when loaded at one side thereof. Indexing ofwheel 11 is accomplished by brackets 18 fixed to the forward set of spokes 14 and by a cooperating stop 20 discussed in greater detail below.

Articles are delivered onto the uppermost surface of the wheel 11 by the upper flight of an incoming conveyor shown at 21. The articles are pushed onto a coplanar receiving plate 22 having an upper surface at an elevation identical to the elevation of each wheel surface 15 when in its top horizontal loading position. Longitudinal conveyor guides 23 are fixed to framework 10 immediately above the conveyor 21 to maintain objects on conveyor 21 in desired rows during movement of the wheel 11. Guides 23 and 16 are respectively aligned at the loading position of each wheel side surface 15.

After loading of articles onto wheel 11, it is necessary to prevent further forward movement of the remaining articles or containers due to the action of conveyor 21. This is accomplished by means of upper and lower transverse shafts 24 which have a plurality of eccentric cams 2S fixed to them immediately above and below the plate 22. The cams 25 are transversely spaced between guides 23 so as to be capable of engaging objects located between guides 23.

The shafts 24 and cams 25 are rotated in opposite directions by a linkage shown in FIG. 2. This comprises a double-acting cylinder assembly 26 that is pivotally connected to a short crank arm 27 fixed to one end of the upper shaft 24. Identical crank arms 28 and a pivoted connecting link 30 join the two shafts 24 and transmit the desired movement to the lower shaft 24. As can be seen in FIG. 2, extension of the cylinder assembly 26 will cause shaft 24 to pivot oppositely and this pivotal movement will result in the cams 25 engaging and pushing rearwardly the rows of containers not received on the wheel 11.

Operation of the cylinder assembly 26 is governed by article-sensing means in the form of a number of limit switches 31 positioned immediately forward of the wheel 11 and also centered between the guides 23 and 16. The limit switches 31 are connected in series, so that all of the switches 31 must be activated by contact with objects on the wheel 11 prior to operation of the cylinder assembly 26. Since the objects must be pushed onto the wheel 11 from the conveyor 21, actuation of each limit switch 31 indicates the presence of a full row ofarticles or containers from the front end of conveyor 21 to the front edge of wheel 11.

The indexing apparatus is best understood from a study of FIG. 5. The previously described brackets 18 are selectively engaged by an upstanding piston rod 33 of a dashpot or shock absorber 34 fixed to the upper end of an upright hinged plate 39. The plate 39 is moved from a released position (dashed lines in FIG. to an operating position (full lines) by the ac' tion ofa conventional double-acting cylinder 32.

In use, cylinder 32 is momentarily retracted shortly after the actuation of cylinder assembly 26, thereby permitting wheel 11 to begin rotational movement about the axis of shaft 12. The cylinder assembly 32 immediately returns plate 39 to its operating position after being cleared by the engaged bracket 18 in order that the succeeding bracket 18 will come to rest on the upper end of the piston rod 33. The dashpot 34 tends to reduce the momentary shock involved in stopping the rotation of wheel 11 and serves to bring the upper wheel surface 15 into a proper controlled horizontal position level with the upper surface of plate 22.

Cartons are delivered to the apparatus by an upwardly inclined carton delivery conveyor 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2). At its upper end, the conveyor 37 pushes the cartons over a vertical chute, defined by front, rear, and side carton guides 38. The

guides 38 present an upright magazine and are spaced on the framework 10 in such fashion as to maintain the open cartons in a continuous row, the lower carton in the row being normally held by side spring clips 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Clips 40 prevent continued downward movement of empty cartons, but are sufficiently resilient to permit movement of a carton past the clips 30 upon subjection of the carton to a moving force.

Radially outward from the wheel 11 are a plurality of rods 41 which serve to guide the cartons and contents during rotation of the wheel 11, thereby maintaining the carton and its contents against the respective rods 41. The guide surfaces are located from the wheel axis by a distance equal to the maximum carton radius on the wheel. Release of the cartons is accomplished at the lower ends of rods 41 which terminate immediately above a longitudinal conveyor 44 which carries the carton and its inverted contents from the apparatus for storing or shipping purposes.

The method of this disclosure and operation of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9. As shown in the top view in FIG. 7, rows of objects such as cans 42 are directed from the conveyor 21 into the upper horizontal wheel surface 15. When each row across the wheel surface is full, the switches 31 will actuate the cylinder assembly 26 to retain the remaining objects or cans 42 as previously discussed. The stop 20 is then released, permitting wheel 11 to begin rotational movement about the axis of shaft 12. Because the wheel 11 will normally be unloaded at the side shown to the right in FIGS. 8 and 9, the gravitational forces due to the weight of the containers and cartons will rotate wheel 11 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow 45.

The path of carton 43 within the guides 38 is tangential to the path of the cans 42 during rotation of the wheel 11. As they intersect along their respective paths, the cans 42 fit within the open cartons 43 in the manner shown toward the top in FIG. 9. The continued rotation of wheel 11 causes the engaged carton to be pulled downwardly beyond the normal retaining position achieved by the action of spring clips 40. This action is illustrated toward the left in FIG. 8. The cartons 43 and their contents are maintained against the surfaces of wheel 11 by the arcuate rods 41 which engage against the bottom carton surfaces.

The wheel 11 will continue to pivot or rotate on a step-bystep basis as each side surface 15 of the wheel 11 is filled by objects being placed thereon. The cartons and objects continue downwardly about the left side of the wheel 11 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 until they are discharged onto the upper surface of the receiving conveyor 44. The carton 43 is received in an upright open condition, with the objects or containers therein being inverted from their original position on the conveyor 21. The filled carton 43 then travels longitudinally to clear wheel 11 for further rotational movement. The conveyor 44 can be positioned to move the filled cartons either longitudinally or transversely with respect to the wheel 11, the direction of movement being dictated solely by the requirements of a particular installation.

By utilizing a method of successively placing articles, delivering cartons and moving rotationally about a fixed axis, this method has been found to provide operational speeds far beyond those available by conventional means. The various elements move in a constant progression, without any reciprocation of any member other than the indexing stop. Timing of the various movements required is virtually automatic, since the weight of the articles causes rotation, and the rotational movement of articles causes the engaged cartons to move into place on the articles.

Various changes can be made in the size relation of the elements, choice of conveyor design, number of wheel sides, etc., without modifying this disclosed method and novel combination of essential elements.

The incoming objects need not be directed along a conveyor extending parallel to the axis of shaft 12. The conveyor shown at 21 might be directed at right angles to the position shown therein, and appropriately oriented guides would then be provided on the side surfaces of wheel 11. Other arrangements for carrying objects to wheel 11 might also be used, as well as alternative receiving devices and conveyors for the filled cartons.

FIGS. through 15 disclose a modification of the apparatus discussed above. In contrast to the guiding action of rods 41 that maintain the contents of the carton on the wheel 11, vacuum gripping means are utilized in this embodiment to hold the articles on the wheel. The previous reference numerals are used in FIGS. 10 through 15 to denote those structural members common to both embodiments and no further description of these elements is believed to be necessary.

As can be seen particularly in FIGS. 11 and 12, each of the wheel surfaces 15 is perforated by a series of apertures 45. Apertures 45 open to an interior enclosure formed by a wall 46 spaced inwardly from the wheel side surface 15 and bounded by sidewalls extending to the surfaces 15. The space within these walled areas provides a sealed enclosure to which vacuum pressure can be selectively applied. Vacuum pressure can be directed through apertures 45 to articles located on the wheel side surfaces 15.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the outer layer of each wheel side surface 15 is shown as being a resilient material, such as rubber, capable of sealing against the article surfaces resting thereon. Another suitable alternative would be the use of individual vacuum cups directed outwardly and flush with the wheel side surfaces 15. The vacuum cups can be movable to pull toward the articles or the surrounding support plate at the wheel side surface 15 can be movable to permit the articles to come against the vacuum cups. Various types of vacuum table arrangements for gripping articles placed thereon have been developed previously, and the precise details of the surface arrangement are not believed necessary for an understanding of this invention.

Each of the wheel side surfaces 15 must be individually controlled for the application of vacuum pressure thereto, since pressure should be preferably applied after reception of articles on the respective surface and released after insertion of the articles into a carton. This individual control can be applied through a spider centered on shaft 12 and rotatable with the wheel. The spider is shown as a hub 47 in communication with a center vacuum tube 48 coaxial with shaft 12. Projecting radially outward from hub 47 are a number of rigid vacuum conduits 50 in communication with the respective enclosures inwardly adjacent to the wheel side surfaces 15. Interposed in each vacuum conduit 50 is a conventional two-position vacuum valve 51 having alternate control levers 52 and 53 which respectively open and close the conduit 50 on which it is positioned. The spider is operatively connected to a conventional vacuum motor and pump assembly 54 through the tube 48.

To control the application of vacuum pressure to the respective wheel side surfaces 15, a bracket 55 is shown on the framework in the rotational path of the control element 52 for each valve 51. Bracket 55 is located on the framework so as to trip the lever 52 immediately following initial rotation of wheel 11 as each wheel side surface leaves its upper loading position. Altemately, vacuum could be applied after loading of the surface, but prior to wheel rotation.

As the articles are moved in a rotational path about the axis of wheel 11, they are inserted into upwardly open cartons 43 on a horizontal carton delivery conveyor 56. The path of conveyor 56 is tangential to the path of the articles on wheel ll. As shown, conveyor 56 includes a horizontal stationary table 57 along which the cartons are pushed by a belt conveyor or other mechanism (not shown) which would be located to the left ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 12. Each carton is held adjacent to wheel II at a stationary receiving position by spring clips 58, which operate substantially in the same manner as the previously described clips 40. The individual cartons are engaged by the articles during rotation ofwheel II and pulled further along table 57 through the clips 58. The succeeding motion of the next carton pushes the loaded carton onto a receiving conveyor 44 adjacent to the wheel 11.

In order that the articles on the wheel 11 be released within the respective cartons after insertion, it is necessary that the vacuum pressure maintaining them against the wheel side surfaces 15 be released at the downwardly facing position of each surface. This is accomplished by a second bracket 60 on the supporting framework. Bracket 60 intersects the rotational path of the operating element 53 for each valve 51 and is indexed about the axis of wheel 11 so as to release the vacuum at the lowermost position of wheel 11.

As seen in FIG. 14, the articles, such as bottles or cans 42, are directed onto the upper horizontal wheel surface. Due to the weight of the articles at the left side of wheel 11, the wheel will rotate by gravity forces as previously described, the indexing of wheel 11 being identical to or the equivalent of that related in detail above. The articles move in groups in a counterclockwise direction and pull the respective cartons across the table 57 as seen in FIG. 15, which illustrates the rotational insertion of a group of articles into a carton at the bottom of wheel 11. Vacuum is maintained on the articles from a first angular position at or rotationally following the upwardly facing loading position of each wheel side surface and continues until the articles are each located within a carton, the vacuum being released preferably when the respective side surface is in a downwardly facing horizontal position as seen at the bottom of FIG. 14.

It is believed that the method of operation of this modification is evident from the drawings and the more detailed description related above with respect to the first embodiment.

Other changes might be made in the mechanical and control details shown without deviating from. the basic concept set out in this disclosure. Therefore, only the following claims are intended as definitions of the scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for loading articles into a carton, comprising:

a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal central axis,

the periphery of the wheel presenting a plurality of identical outer side surfaces centered and equiangularly spaced about said axis;

individual vacuum gripping means arranged along each wheel side surface for selectively fixing articles received thereon to enable the wheel to rotate about its axis without dislodging the articles;

index means for sequentially positioning the side surfaces at an upwardly facing loading position relative to said axis;

loading means for selectively placing articles onto each side surface while at said loading position;

first control means operatively connected to said vacuum gripping means for activation of said vacuum gripping means following placement of articles thereon;

carton placement means for selectively placing individual cartons at a position tangential to the path of articles on said wheel side surfaces about the wheel axis, whereby the articles on each wheel side surface are inserted into an open carton during rotational motion of the wheel about its axis;

and second control means operatively connected to said vacuum gripping means for releasing said vacuum gripping means at each wheel side surface following the insertion of articles thereon into an open carton.

2. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons:

a framework;

a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing plane side surfaces arranged about said axis;

indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis. and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel .side surface at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position;

an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articles upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position;

conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the article delivery conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows;

outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position;

and carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position.

3. An apparatus is set out in claim 2 wherein said article delivery conveyor includes an endless upper flight that is coplanar with each wheel side surface when the respective wheel side surfaces are at the loading position.

4. An apparatus as set out in claim 3 further comprising:

article-detecting means on said framework adjacent to the wheel and opposite to the conveyor aligned between each pair of guides on a wheel side surface at said loading position, said article detecting means being operatively connected to said indexing means for permitting a preselected angular amount of rotational movement of the wheel about its axis in response to the reception of a full charge of articles on each wheel side surface while at said loading position.

5. An apparatus as set out in claim 4 wherein the wheel is caused to rotate by weight of articles and cartons to one side of the wheel axis.

6. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons:

a framework;

a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing side surfaces arranged about said axis;

indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at a loading position;

an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articles upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position;

vacuum gripping means located at each wheel side surface for selectively fixing articles received thereon to enable the wheel to rotate about its axis without dislodging the articles;

a source of vacuum pressure;

control means operatively connected between said framework and the respective vacuum gripping means at the respective wheel side surfaces for applying vacuum pressure to the articles received thereon at said loading position and for maintaining such pressure during rotation of the wheel about its axis;

and carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position.

7. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons:

a framework;

a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing plane side surfaces arranged about said axis;

indexing means'on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position;

an article delivery conveyor on said framework including a longitudinal upper flight coplanar with said loading position for directing a charge of articles onto each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position;

carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel'side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position;

means on said side surfaces of said wheel for preventing displacement of the articles relative to the respective surfaces until they are inserted within a carton;

a receiving conveyor having a flight thereof extending under said wheel and loading outwardly therefrom;

and a guide apparatus alongside the wheel in its direction of rotation from said loading position, said guide apparatus including upright surfaces spaced outwardly from the wheel axis at a distance equal to the maximum carton radius on the wheel, the lower ends of said surfaces terminating at said receiving conveyor flight.

8. An apparatus as set out in claim 7 further comprising:

conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the upper flight of the article delivery conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows;

said last-named means comprising outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel side surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position.

9. An apparatus as set out in claim 8 further comprising:

article-detecting means on said framework adjacent to the wheel and aligned between each pair of guides on a wheel side surface at said loading position, said article-detecting means being operatively connected to said indexing means for permitting a preselected angular amount of rotational movement of the wheel about its axis in response to the reception of a full charge of articles on each wheel side surface while at said loading position.

10. An apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising:

a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal central axis,

the periphery of the wheel presenting a plurality ofidentical outer side surfaces centered and equiangularly spaced about said axis;

index means for sequentially positioning the side surfaces at an upwardly facing loading position relative to said axis;

loading means for selectively placing articles onto each side surface while at said loading position, said loading means comprising a longitudinal conveyor having a discharge end longitudinally adjacent to and coplanar with a wheel side surface at said loading position;

stop means adjacent to the wheel for selectively engaging articles at the discharge end on the conveyor following the placement of articles onto each wheel side surface at said loading position;

carton placement means for selectively positioning inverted empty cartons over the articles placed upon the wheel surfaces;

retaining means alongside the wheel including upright surfaces facing a portion of the wheel for engaging the cartons and maintaining the cartons and articles on the wheel side surfaces during movement of the wheel about its axis, said retaining means being adapted to release each carton after inversion of the articles therein; and

, conveyor means for receiving the carton after release thereof by said retaining means and for subsequently carrying each filled carton away from the apparatus.

11. A method of loading a charge of bottles or cans into a carton, comprising the following steps:

placing the charge of bottles or cans in upright positions upon an upwardly facing horizontal portion of the peripheral surface of an upright multisided wheel; rotating the wheel about its central horizontal axis; holding the charge of bottles or cans on the wheel during initial rotation thereof; feeding open cartons along a path tangential to the rotational path of the charge of bottles or cans about the wheel axis; inserting the charge of bottles or cans into the carton; and releasing the charge of bottles or cans from the wheel after insertion into the carton and inversion of the charge of bottles or cans due to rotation of the wheel about its axis. 12. A method of loading a charge of bottles or cans into cartons, comprising the following steps:

placing a charge of bottles or cans in upright positions upon successive side surfaces of an upright multisided wheel as each such side surface is oriented at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position; intermittently permitting rotational movement of the wheel about its central horizontal axis by gravitational forces to thereby move successive side surfaces of the wheel to the loading position;

placing an open carton over each charge of bottles or cans received on the respective wheel side surfaces during rotational movement of the side surface about the wheel axis;

holding the cartons for rotational movement conjointly with the respective wheel side surfaces during inversion of the successive charges of bottles or cans due to rotational movement of the wheel about its horizontal axis;

and successively releasing each carton and the charge of bottles or cans contained therein following inversion of the charge of bottles or cans about the wheel axis.

13. A method loading an article into a carton, comprising the following steps:

placing the article upon an upwardly facing portion of the peripheral surface of an upright wheel in such condition that the article is inverted with respect to its intended position in the upright carton;

rotating the wheel about its central horizontal axis;

securing the article to the wheel during rotation thereof;

directing an open carton along a path tangential to the rotational path of the article about the wheel axis;

inserting the article into the carton during rotation of the wheel;

and releasing the article from the wheel after insertion into the carton.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference N 0. 98,038 involving Patent N 0. 3,589,094, R. A. Pearson, CARTON-LOADIN G APPARATUS AND METHOD, final judgment adgerse to the patentee was rendered Oct. 10, 1973, as to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 an 13.

[Oflicial Gazette February %6, 1.974.] 

1. An apparatus for loading articles into a carton, comprising: a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal central axis, the periphery of the wheel presenting a plurality of identical outer side surfaces centered and equiangularly spaced about said axis; individual vacuum gripping means arranged along each wheel side surface for selectively fixing articles rEceived thereon to enable the wheel to rotate about its axis without dislodging the articles; index means for sequentially positioning the side surfaces at an upwardly facing loading position relative to said axis; loading means for selectively placing articles onto each side surface while at said loading position; first control means operatively connected to said vacuum gripping means for activation of said vacuum gripping means following placement of articles thereon; carton placement means for selectively placing individual cartons at a position tangential to the path of articles on said wheel side surfaces about the wheel axis, whereby the articles on each wheel side surface are inserted into an open carton during rotational motion of the wheel about its axis; and second control means operatively connected to said vacuum gripping means for releasing said vacuum gripping means at each wheel side surface following the insertion of articles thereon into an open carton.
 2. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons: a framework; a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing plane side surfaces arranged about said axis; indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position; an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articles upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position; conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the article delivery conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows; outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position; and carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position.
 3. An apparatus is set out in claim 2 wherein said article delivery conveyor includes an endless upper flight that is coplanar with each wheel side surface when the respective wheel side surfaces are at the loading position.
 4. An apparatus as set out in claim 3 further comprising: article-detecting means on said framework adjacent to the wheel and opposite to the conveyor aligned between each pair of guides on a wheel side surface at said loading position, said article detecting means being operatively connected to said indexing means for permitting a preselected angular amount of rotational movement of the wheel about its axis in response to the reception of a full charge of articles on each wheel side surface while at said loading position.
 5. An apparatus as set out in claim 4 wherein the wheel is caused to rotate by weight of articles and cartons to one side of the wheel axis.
 6. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons: a framework; a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing side surfaces arranged about said axis; indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at a loading position; an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articleS upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position; vacuum gripping means located at each wheel side surface for selectively fixing articles received thereon to enable the wheel to rotate about its axis without dislodging the articles; a source of vacuum pressure; control means operatively connected between said framework and the respective vacuum gripping means at the respective wheel side surfaces for applying vacuum pressure to the articles received thereon at said loading position and for maintaining such pressure during rotation of the wheel about its axis; and carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position.
 7. In a carton-loading apparatus for placing a preselected charge of articles within open cartons: a framework; a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multisided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing plane side surfaces arranged about said axis; indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position; an article delivery conveyor on said framework including a longitudinal upper flight coplanar with said loading position for directing a charge of articles onto each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position; carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each charge of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position; means on said side surfaces of said wheel for preventing displacement of the articles relative to the respective surfaces until they are inserted within a carton; a receiving conveyor having a flight thereof extending under said wheel and loading outwardly therefrom; and a guide apparatus alongside the wheel in its direction of rotation from said loading position, said guide apparatus including upright surfaces spaced outwardly from the wheel axis at a distance equal to the maximum carton radius on the wheel, the lower ends of said surfaces terminating at said receiving conveyor flight.
 8. An apparatus as set out in claim 7 further comprising: conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the upper flight of the article delivery conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows; said last-named means comprising outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel side surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position.
 9. An apparatus as set out in claim 8 further comprising: article-detecting means on said framework adjacent to the wheel and aligned between each pair of guides on a wheel side surface at said loading position, said article-detecting means being operatively connected to said indexing means for permitting a preselected angular amount of rotational movement of the wheel about its axis in response to the reception of a full charge of articles on each wheel side surface while at said loading position.
 10. An apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising: a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal central axis, the periphery of the wheel presenting a plurality of identical outer side surfaces centered and equiangularly spaced about said axis; index means for sequentially positioning the side surfaces at an upwardly facing loading position relative to said axis; lOading means for selectively placing articles onto each side surface while at said loading position, said loading means comprising a longitudinal conveyor having a discharge end longitudinally adjacent to and coplanar with a wheel side surface at said loading position; stop means adjacent to the wheel for selectively engaging articles at the discharge end on the conveyor following the placement of articles onto each wheel side surface at said loading position; carton placement means for selectively positioning inverted empty cartons over the articles placed upon the wheel surfaces; retaining means alongside the wheel including upright surfaces facing a portion of the wheel for engaging the cartons and maintaining the cartons and articles on the wheel side surfaces during movement of the wheel about its axis, said retaining means being adapted to release each carton after inversion of the articles therein; and conveyor means for receiving the carton after release thereof by said retaining means and for subsequently carrying each filled carton away from the apparatus.
 11. A method of loading a charge of bottles or cans into a carton, comprising the following steps: placing the charge of bottles or cans in upright positions upon an upwardly facing horizontal portion of the peripheral surface of an upright multisided wheel; rotating the wheel about its central horizontal axis; holding the charge of bottles or cans on the wheel during initial rotation thereof; feeding open cartons along a path tangential to the rotational path of the charge of bottles or cans about the wheel axis; inserting the charge of bottles or cans into the carton; and releasing the charge of bottles or cans from the wheel after insertion into the carton and inversion of the charge of bottles or cans due to rotation of the wheel about its axis.
 12. A method of loading a charge of bottles or cans into cartons, comprising the following steps: placing a charge of bottles or cans in upright positions upon successive side surfaces of an upright multisided wheel as each such side surface is oriented at an upwardly facing horizontal loading position; intermittently permitting rotational movement of the wheel about its central horizontal axis by gravitational forces to thereby move successive side surfaces of the wheel to the loading position; placing an open carton over each charge of bottles or cans received on the respective wheel side surfaces during rotational movement of the side surface about the wheel axis; holding the cartons for rotational movement conjointly with the respective wheel side surfaces during inversion of the successive charges of bottles or cans due to rotational movement of the wheel about its horizontal axis; and successively releasing each carton and the charge of bottles or cans contained therein following inversion of the charge of bottles or cans about the wheel axis.
 13. A method loading an article into a carton, comprising the following steps: placing the article upon an upwardly facing portion of the peripheral surface of an upright wheel in such condition that the article is inverted with respect to its intended position in the upright carton; rotating the wheel about its central horizontal axis; securing the article to the wheel during rotation thereof; directing an open carton along a path tangential to the rotational path of the article about the wheel axis; inserting the article into the carton during rotation of the wheel; and releasing the article from the wheel after insertion into the carton. 